Anyway, I’ve been away. I took vacation from work the week of Sarah K’s birthday. I’ve taken that day, or the whole week if possible, off work every year for 17 years in a row. The last time I worked on her birthday was in 1993, and that’s because I was stationed in Korea.

During the week of July 19 (Sarah’s birthday), I went to Valdosta and spent some time with my son. That was fun. Wife and I then spent some time in Montgomery. And, yes, that was just as much fun as it sounds.

Spent some time adding an Xbox to the Internet TV setup. For ESPN 3. Not for gaming. Because video games are stupid and dumb. And I won’t be playing games on it. Or adding a 250 GB drive to it. Or buying a second controller. Or adding Microsoft points to my account. Or customizing an avatar. Or playing Peggle. Or customizing a Game Room. Or several rooms in Game Room. Or any of those other stupid things that people with Xboxes do. Nope. Not me. ESPN3 only for my Xbox.

Also spent some time worrying about my grandson, who broke his arm at football practice. He’ll be okay. Other grandson is still playing, so we’ll be attending some of those games.

All this doesn’t take all that much time or interfere with much. But there’s this one other thing going on: work.

I don’t blog about work. So, when I don’t blog, it’s about work.

So, while I was away, what did I miss?

Gold was 1,596.95/ounce the last time I posted something here. It’s 1,852.10/ounce now.

The Dow was 12,479.73 when I last posted. It’s 10,817.65 now.

The last time you heard from me, Obama was doing a piss-poor job as president and the economy was tanking. Today, Obama is doing a piss-poor job as president and the economy is tanking.

I’m not sure if my being away made things worse. But, just in case, you’ll be putting up with me some more now.

You have been warned.

It’s my own mini, but true, version of Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House and it started a few weeks ago. Wife was inspired. She decided that we needed to paint the bathroom walls. She wanted to change from a blue-scheme wallpaper to green painted walls. So she picked out some $40-something a gallon Martha Stewart paint.

Turns out the paint didn’t go on the walls. It went on the base paint. That was around $20-something a gallon. So in order to cover the walls, it was actually $60-something a gallon.

After the walls were done, the floor didn’t match. Because they were a blue theme, those cheap floor tiles had to go. Wife wanted wood floors. So, that’s what we got. I lost count of how much the wood, stain, polyurethane, and all such cost. But it did look good.

But now the vanity top didn’t match. It was blue. So, she picked out a new one. A white marble top with a molded sink. A little over $200. And it looked really good.

That meant we needed to change the faucet. The old one didn’t look good with it. Really, it didn’t.

So, she found one. It’s oil-rubbed bronze, or Venetian bronze, or Tuscan bronze, or some sort of bronze or something. And the spout looked like an old-style hand pump spout. And it was a little under $200. But it looked really good.

Of course, that meant that the drawer handles, door handles, and hinges on the vanity cabinet didn’t match. So we had to find new ones in oil-rubbed bronze, buy those, and replace the old ones. The hinges were hard to find. I had to order them from a place in Spokane, Washington. Which jacked the price of the 4 hinges up from under $4 to about $20.

Oh, and the towel rack needed to be replaced so it would match ($43). And the hand towel rack ($21). And the toilet paper holder ($21). And the bath robe hooks ($25).

And the door stop. And the door handle. And the door hinges. And the handle and hinges on the bathroom closet door as well. That all totaled around $80.

And the light fixture didn’t match. But a new one that did ran $99.

Oh, and the shower curtain rod. Needed one that matched. It was $50 for one that was the right style and color.

Remember the new white marble sink? Now the toilet didn’t match. So, we had to replace it. That was around $240 for a chair-height, elongated, dual-flush white toilet.

Then, of course, we had to get new bath rugs and accessories — fuzzy mat outside the tube, fuzzy mat in front of the vanity, the little fuzzy thing that goes around the toilet base, and a fuzzy toilet seat cover — and towels and such. Which together totaled a little under $200.

If you’ve been adding all this up as we’ve gone along, you’ll realize that we passed the $1,000 mark some time ago. And that’s only because we did the work ourselves. Well, us and one of the sons-in-law.

What we ended up with was a lot of work and a lot of money spent. But it all matches the shower curtain.

The shower curtain? Yes, the shower curtain she bought on sale for $10 from the K-Mart a while back. We did all that painting and replacing stuff so the bathroom would match a $10 shower curtain.

And that’s how the country ends up spending too much money on stuff.

Of course, now you understand how one thing leads to another, and that good intentions can end up with unexpected consequences and unexpected expenses.

The difference, though, is that we didn’t decide to begin a series of things that cost way too much money and have you pay for it. We paid for it ourselves. So, it’s not a financial impact on you. And we aren’t passing the debt along to your grandchildren.

The government, who has even less sense than we do, ends up spending 130 times as much as it should on stuff — but they make you pay for it.

It makes you want to beat a politician with a stick.

I don’t have a stick. But now I got a spare shower curtain rod. It ought to do the trick.

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Georgia:
Button Gwinnett
Lyman Hall
George Walton

North Carolina:
William Hooper
Joseph Hewes
John Penn

South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge
Thomas Heyward, Jr.
Thomas Lynch, Jr.
Arthur Middleton

Massachusetts:
John Hancock

Maryland:
Samuel Chase
William Paca
Thomas Stone
Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia:
George Wythe
Richard Henry Lee
Thomas Jefferson
Benjamin Harrison
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Francis Lightfoot Lee
Carter Braxton

Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris
Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Franklin
John Morton
George Clymer
James Smith
George Taylor
James Wilson
George Ross

Delaware:
Caesar Rodney
George Read
Thomas McKean

New York:
William Floyd
Philip Livingston
Francis Lewis
Lewis Morris

New Jersey:
Richard Stockton
John Witherspoon
Francis Hopkinson
John Hart
Abraham Clark

New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett
William Whipple

Massachusetts:
Samuel Adams
John Adams
Robert Treat Paine
Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins
William Ellery

Connecticut:
Roger Sherman
Samuel Huntington
William Williams
Oliver Wolcott

New Hampshire:
Matthew Thornton

We shouldn’t limit our reading — or understanding — of this document for anniversaries such as today.

When Fred Thompson had his radio show, Westwood One hired me (Harvey, in case you don’t read bylines) to run the show’s website. After Fred moved on, Westwood let me switch over to running the site for the Doug Urbanski Show. If you don’t know him, he’s a solid conservative who’s previously done fill-ins for other conservative talk show hosts (Laura Ingraham, Michael Savage, Fred Thompson, Tammy Bruce, Jerry Doyle, Rusty Humphries, Dennis Miller, Bill O’Reilly, AND Rush).

Well, 4 months in, the Westwood Powers-That-Be are suggesting that I start promoting him outside the show’s website.

Here’s the problem: I sincerely love Doug’s show. He chews on Obama like a puppy on a bacon-flavored slipper, plus he gives me a pretty free hand posting commentary on the site. I don’t have to hold back or be nice, because Doug enjoys playing hardball.

Just to give you a taste, here are some of the words Doug has used to describe Obama (in no particular order, and not all on the same day):

Liar, thug, bully, punk, Marxist, Statist, socialist, communist, community organizer, Serial-Liar-in-Chief, Comrade Obama, appeaser, politically tone-deaf, fool, disaster, bizarre, unprepared, neglectful, immature, self-absorbed, agitator, the enemy, violent, epic failure, disgrace…

You get the idea.

So I honestly think you guys would like his stuff, and I’ve thought about sharing it here before, but I thought it’d make me look like a sleazy corporate shill, one step above a random comment spammer.

So, I figure, I’ll give you one thing. If you like it, I’ll give you more. If not, I won’t. Here’s a recent quote from the show and a link to the audio clip:

There is a fundamental difference here between Republicans and Democrats. Republicans believe that the government is there to provide an atmosphere for you to succeed. The Democrats wish to use the government to protect Americans from those who want to succeed.

I’d post the audio here, but the Powers-That-Be want to see site traffic, so click through for the whole thing.

But please, don’t click through as a favor to me. Click through if you want to hear a human being saying these words because they’re something you want to hear.

Oh, and let me know what you think of it. Brutal honesty is appreciated.

Here’s a screen capture from Obama’s Twitter page:

See that down in the corner? Where it lists other Twitter users that are similar?

See? I don’t see anyone from Fox News listed. Actually, I don’t see anyone from CNN listed, either, which sort of surprised me.

When I did a refresh of the page, CBS News did come up. Did a lot more refreshes. George Stephanopoulos, some critter from NPR, and … Twitter.

Which means that those of you who kept saying Twitter was teh ghey … may have been right all along.

UPDATE: Twitter chief picked as Obama telecom advisor. Well, that explains something.

I don’t know what kind of access I’ll have to Mr. Cain. But who knows? Maybe I’ll be able to get a few minutes to ask a question or two.

Remember when I asked for questions for a Congressman a while back? Yeah, that didn’t go too well.

Maybe this will go better. Maybe.

So, let’s ask Herman Cain some questions.

If you had the chance to ask him a question, what would you ask? Serious questions would be okay, too.

I have sent a link to this post to the Cain campaign, so they can decide if they want to answer any of them. I’ll have my video camera, and record him answering your questions and play it back for you.

If he takes the questions.

He might not. Seriously, would you answer a bunch of questions from this group? If you wanted to be taken seriously as a presidential candidate, that is?

I didn’t think so.

But, Herman Cain is a smart man. He may be able to answer your questions and still remain a serious candidate.

Leave your questions in the comments. Really, what could go wrong?

UPDATE 20-May-2011 7:37 AM
For some of the questions received so far (climate change, Obamacare, golf) I have videos or columns by the candidate that address them, or excepts from print interviews that touch on them.

If I have the opportunity to ask questions, I will include them on the list anyway. But, I’ll have some answers based on prior statements, just in case.

UPDATE 22-May-2011 9:22 PM
Some of the questions were answered. Sort of.

It’s the first city in Georgia, founded in 1733. And it’s full of history.

Forsyth Park. Fort Jackson. Fort Pulaski. River Street. The Squares. Tybee Light. Johnny Mercer House.

Don’t know how much you know about Savannah. I grew up near there. Well, within TV-watching distance. My high school was in the same region as the Savannah schools, so there’d be travel to games throughout the year. Savannah was close, so I’m a little familiar with it.

But, no matter how much you know about Savannah, there is one aspect that you surely know about, even if you don’t know about its connection with Savannah.

Girl Scouts.

The Girl Scouts were founded in Savannah in 1912.

Whatever you think of the Girl Scouts, you gotta admit: they make good cookies. I always look forward to the sale of Girl Scout Cookies. I stock up. You can freeze them, you know. They’ll keep. And you can enjoy them year-round. At least, I think you can enjoy them year-round. They don’t usually last that long around me.

Anyway, you can buy Girl Scout Cookies now. They’re selling them.

Only, you can’t buy them at the home of Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts.

Nope. The address 10 East Oglethorpe Avenue is off-limits to the sale of Girl Scout Cookies.

Seems somebody complained last year.

So, the Girl Scouts cannot sell cookies in front of the home of the founder of the Girl Scouts.

I tell you, this country’s going to hell in a handbasket when Girl Scouts can’t sell cookies in at the home of the founder of the Girl Scouts.

I wonder who complained. Whoever it was complained hates America. I mean, really. Stopping little girls from selling cookies? Sounds like something somebody who voted for Barack Obama would do, that’s how un-American it is.

I’m thinking about heading to Savannah and offering to buy a busload of Girl Scout Cookies in front of the Juliette Gordon Low House. And, if anyone complained, they could bite be. While I’m biting into some Girl Scout Cookies.

Where I come from, we usually look at such people and say “Bless their heart.” That’s Georgia-speak for “What a dumbass.”

I know, the calendar you got at the kiosk at the mall has “Presidents Day” written in the little block for today. Well, about those people that made that calendar? Bless their heart.

I know, all the TV and radio ads talk about “Presidents Day” sales going on today. Those people that wrote those commercials? Bless their heart.

Today’s a federal holiday. And, it’s “Washington’s Birthday.” Take a look at United States Code 5 U.S.C. 6103 and see what it says. Sure enough, it says “Washington’s Birthday.”

Now, the truth is that George Washington’s birthday isn’t until tomorrow. In fact, the official federal holiday for Washington’s Birthday never falls on his actual birthday. Who else but the government could screw up a birthday so bad? And some folks want them in charge of health care. Bless their heart.

Why do I make a big deal about what today is called? Because I think it’s bad idea to ignore history. George Washington was actually a pretty important guy in American history. Important enough to actually give a holiday for his birthday.

George Washington

George Washington was born on February 11, 1731. You see, the colony of Virginia, like all of Great Britain, was using the Julian calendar at the time. When Britain and the colonies adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1752, a lot of dates changed. New Years Day moved from March 25 to January 1, and 11 days disappeared. You can read all about that craziness here.

The upshot is that the old style date of February 11, 1731 became February 22, 1732. And that’s George Washington’s birthday.

George Washington became a surveyor, joined the Virginia militia, fought in the Seven Years War (AKA the French and Indian War), married a rich widow, fooled around a lot, and became a successful businessman.

As tensions mounted between the colonies and the British Crown, Washington led the American forces in the Revolutionary War, culminating in the British surrender and recognition of the United States of American as a soverign nation. After several unsuccessful governments were established under the Articles of Confederation, a new Constitution was adopted in 1787 (ratified in 1788). The presidential electors unanimously selected Washington as the first President, the only person ever so honored.

Washington served two terms, retired, and lived a quiet life until 1799.

As a military officer and a statesman and politician, Washington was one of the most respected Americans. And, his birthday was celebrated by the states. In 1879, Washington’s Birthday became the fifth federal holiday, joining New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

Holiday confusion

In 1968, the movement to change many holidays to a nearby Monday began. In 1971, Richard Nixon issued Executive Order 11582, beginning that process. Still, the holiday is officially Washington’s Birthday, and has always been Washington’s Birthday. (Snopes has a write-up about this, too, by the way.)

Some states observed Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (February 12). Some still might. And some people got the idea that the new federal holiday in February was for Washington and Lincoln. Bless their heart.

Somewhere along the way, people began to call today’s holiday “Presidents’ Day.” Whether by design or not, it contributes to the ignorance of Americans. It ignores the importance of George Washington. And it causes many Americans to either forget or never understand the contributions of George Washington in the formation of this great country.

So, I wish you a very pleasant Washington’s Birthday today. Some of you are off work. Others, like me, have a regular work day. Whatever your plans are, take some time to remember George Washington.

And, if you’re celebrating Presidents Day today? Bless your heart.

Brenda K. Speaks

That’s a bad idea, according to Brenda K. Speaks, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, Ward 4B05. Why, you ask.

No, really. Go ahead and ask. I’ll wait.

Okay, since you asked. She doesn’t want Walmart because it will cause kids to steal:

Addressing a small, anti-Wal-Mart rally at City Hall on Monday, Speaks said young people would get criminal records when they couldn’t resist the temptation to steal.

Got it? Walmart doesn’t create jobs. It causes theft.

So, if some punk steals from Walmart, it’s because of the temptation created by Walmart, not because the kid is a little thief.

Keep this in mind if you ever get robbed. It’s your fault. Not the fault of the little punk that sticks a gun in your face and takes your money or your car. Yours.

Now, aren’t you ashamed that you have a job and a computer and stuff? You should be. Your are the cause of all things that are wrong with this country.

At least, if you think like Brenda K. Speaks.

I wonder what else is your fault? We need to keep an eye on the likes of you.

The top suggestion so far? Name it after the city’s longest-serving mayor, Harry Baals.

Baals – pronounced “balls” by the then-mayor but “bales” by his descendents – became the Republican nominee for mayor in 1934 and was elected for three successive terms. He returned to politics in 1951 by winning a fourth term but died in office in May 1954. His accomplishments include elevating the railroads in town and negotiating the contract with the Army to establish Baer Field as an air base.

The city’s Deputy Mayor, Beth Malloy, says the building won’t be named after the former mayor. Apparently, she doesn’t care for Harry Baals.

A lot of people, though, like the idea of Harry Baals on a building.

I don’t live in Ft. Wayne, so I don’t have a say in the matter. I could go to the feedback site and make suggestions. But I won’t. And I could encourage you to go to the feedback site and make suggestions. But I won’t. The residents of Ft. Wayne should decide for themselves how they feel about Harry Baals.

The voting, by the way, ends this week. And the 10 finalists from the voting will be given to the mayor. I wonder how his staff will handle Harry Baals. Or the other finalists.

If they do select the former mayor’s name, there will be some residents that won’t like it, I’m sure. It may be that many residents of Ft. Wayne will just have to learn how to live with Harry Baals.

1. And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
2. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5. To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Yes, I’m fully aware that not all of the readers at IMAO are Christians. Not all of the authors at IMAO are Christians. But still, I just wanted to remind everyone — Christians and non-Christians alike — why Christians do celebrate this day. We all need to be reminded.

This month, I’ve spent a lot more time looking at pages on Amazon.com than I have pages in the Scriptures. So, yes, I need to be reminded, too. Like I said, we all need to be reminded.

I have no idea if Frank will be up and writing today. I don’t even know if he’ll be up and reading today. But, I strongly suspect he’ll be up playing husband and father today. So I’ll go first and wish Frank J., SarahK, and Princess Buttercup … as well as the authors, readers, and commenters … a very happy Christmas.

If George W. Bush had said this, the left would be all up in arms. But, since one of Obama’s incompetents made the suggestion, it’s okay with the left. But we on the right are getting our panties in a wad about it.

Should we?

Heck, I don’t know. Because Big Sis launched the campaign at … Walmart.

The “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign—originally implemented by New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority and funded, in part, by $13 million from DHS’ Transit Security Grant Program—is a simple and effective program to engage the public and key frontline employees to identify and report indicators of terrorism, crime and other threats to the proper transportation and law enforcement authorities.

More than 230 Walmart stores nationwide launched the “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign today, with a total of 588 Walmart stores in 27 states joining in the coming weeks. A short video message, available here, will play at select checkout locations to remind shoppers to contact local law enforcement to report suspicious activity.

You see the problem I have with this, right?

Not that Big Sis wants us to report each other. It’s that they’re asking for suspicious activity at Walmart.

I wonder has she ever been to a Walmart? I was at one the other day, and saw Elvis:

Someone else saw him, too, but in California. On the same day, no less.

But, then, it is a Walmart. Where you can find people like this:

And this:

And this:

And this:

Okay, that’s enough. It’s more than enough. You can see more, if you like.

Anyway, what I’m wondering is, are we supposed to report suspicious people we see at Walmart? And, what’s the criteria for “suspicious” at Walmart? Looking normal?

If I was looking for suspicious people to report, I wouldn’t need to go to a Walmart to find some. There’s this person. And this one.

UPDATE 11-20:

Wacky Hermit wants one for “lady junk”. How about this?:

Well, now AARP has sent information to its employees saying that their insurance was going up … because of Obamacare:

In an e-mail to employees, AARP says health care premiums will increase by 8 percent to 13 percent next year because of rapidly rising medical costs.

And AARP adds that it’s changing copayments and deductibles to avoid a 40 percent tax on high-cost health plans that takes effect in 2018 under the law. … Shifting costs to employees lowers the value of a health care plan and acts like an escape hatch from the tax.

To be honest, I don’t mind those that supported Obamacare getting bit in the ass by Obamacare — they are such big asses, after all.

I like laughing at stupid people. It’s fun.

Oh, and AARP? Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!

Fred Thompson offers some clarification:

Yes, these freaks are seriously asking you to stop using the “i-word”.

Let’s see, how many code words are we up to now? I’m pretty sure the following are currently classified as unspeakably offensive:

a-word
b-word
c-word
f-word
h-word
i-word (***new!***)
l-word
n-word
p-word
q-word
s-word
t-word

And possibly the v-word, if you watched any World Cup Soccer.

Democrat Chris Coons called himself a “bearded Marxist.”

Let’s review:

Dabbled in witchcraft

Bearded Marxists

Hey, Delaware: Choose wisely

So, Republican Christine O’Donnell is a crackpot because she said that masturbation is lust outside of marriage, and that is equivalent to adultery?

What she actually said was:

“Lust in your heart is committing adultery, and you can’t masturbate without lust.”

Ever heard that part about lust and adultery before?

Sure you have. There is this little book called The Bible. Maybe you’re familiar with it?

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”

– Matthew 5:27-28

Then again, if you only know what you read in the newspapers or hear on the TV, you might have missed that.

Jimmy Carter in Playboy Magazine

Unless you remember the 1976 presidential election, when the Democrat nominee, Jimmy Carter, told Playboy magazine the same thing about lust and adultery:

“The Bible says, ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery.’ Christ said, I tell you that anyone who looks on a woman with lust has in his heart already committed adultery. I’ve looked on a lot of women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times…”

Now, Carter did catch a lot of crap about that interview. Part was because he gave the interview to Playboy. Part because of what he said about lust and adultery.

He was the butt of jokes at the time. But, it didn’t cost him the election. It actually helped him in the Bible Belt. The Playboy part didn’t; the Bible quote did.

Will O’Donnell be hurt by the talk about masturbation, lust, and adultery? I don’t know.

Is the media treating her fairly over it?

Well, I haven’t seen any media outlet approach Jimmy Carter for a comment on O’Donnell. That silence says a lot.

The Democrat Party nominee is 8-term incumbent, Ted Little.

The Republican Party nominee is Tom Whatley.

What makes this so interesting is that the Democrat is criticizing the Republican by saying he’s really a Democrat.

[Direct link]
Tip: Doc’s Political Parlor and Home of Lawn Mower Repair

It’s not that Ted Little’s ad is making any false claims. As far as I can tell, the ad is true.

But it’s funny to see a Democrat criticizing an opponent … by calling him a Democrat.

Little, the Democrat, is saying don’t vote for the Republican because the Republican supports Democrats and you don’t want someone who supports Democrats winning this election!

This is certainly an interesting political year.

Didn’t take long for me to figure out what it looked like:

Just needs a new slogan to go with it.

“Crap that splatters”, maybe?

Feel free to chime in with your suggestions.

Well, not really old. I was his age once.

Harvey is older today. Of course, you’re older today than you were yesterday. It’s just that Harvey is older on the anniversary of his getting older.

I’m saying it’s his birthday.

How old is Harvey? I’ll let him tell you. Or you can figure out my hint.

Anyway, wish Harvey a happy birthday. Because, well, he deserves it.

But IMAO Reader Laurie dropped me a line with the following intriguing thought:

Is burning a Koran any different than deleting a file of a Koran?

Here is a pdf which includes pages of the Koran:

http://www.muhammadanism.org/Quran/translations_koran.pdf

I downloaded it and deleted it.

Nothing bad happened.

Shame on her for insulting all those peaceful Muslims who threaten to kill people unless their demands are met.

Full pdf versions of the Koran also available in 17 different languages.

Okay, that’s three words. But it describes that whole “Ask A Congressman” thing.

Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL/3) held a town hall in Phenix City last week, and I asked you to submit questions for me to ask. Only, he wouldn’t take your questions.

While the crowd wasn’t huge, locals had some questions. So, when it was all done, I asked if he had time for some questions from blog readers. Since most of you live outside his district, he declined to take them, beginning to say that his town hall was for the 3rd district. He was polite, but that’s what the answer was. Almost. He didn’t get through it, because someone else interrupted him mid-sentence to shake his hand. So, I didn’t get to remind him that … I live in the 3rd district!

He was up against a timeline, having a scheduled meeting with county officials across town.

His press secretary asked me to send the questions her way. However, there hasn’t been a response.

But, that doesn’t mean he didn’t answer some of the questions. Sort of.

Let’s ignore the silly questions for a minute — Mike Rogers isn’t Thaddeus McCotter and IMAO isn’t Red Eye, after all — and focus on serious questions.

Some asked, about repealing Obamacare. As it turns out, in his remarks, Rep. Rogers did address that. He said the new GOP Congress will try, but he thinks the effort will fail:

[Direct link]

Let’s assume best case scenario, both houses flip. “You’re gonna repeal all this stuff that’s been done in the last two years?”

Well, we’re gonna try, but it, everybody in this room knows that, let’s say, for example, that we put a bill on the floor to repeal the health care reform bill, and we pass it through both chambers. Do you think the president’s gonna sign that new law? No, he’s gonna veto it.

Well, the fact is it takes a two-thirds vote to override a veto. So I want people to have realistic expectations about what can be done, uh, over the next two years.

Best thing is we can stop, we can put the brakes on the spending, because the Congress controls the budget. That’s the best thing that can happen.

There were questions about spending, which he also addressed in those same remarks. Remember that whole “we can put the brakes on the spending” comment?

So, while he didn’t answer questions — heck, he didn’t even let me ask them — he did address the top two topics asked on the blog or sent to me in email.

No, I’m not happy he didn’t take the questions. But, seriously, would you take questions from you? I didn’t think so.

And, despite my displeasure, it’s not like I’m gonna campaign or vote for the guy who’s running against him. I don’t even know who that guy is. I think it’s a guy. Doesn’t matter.

I’m voting for Rogers in November. Again. I voted for him in 2008. And 2006. And 2004. And 2002 (when he first ran for Congress).

Well, I’m not offering you the chance to ask your Congressman a question, but you can a Congressman a question.

Rep. Mike Rogers, a Republican from the 3rd District of Alabama, will be about three miles from where I work in Columbus next Monday.

He’s not the Congressman that represents Columbus. For one thing, Columbus is in Georgia. And, Columbus is split between Georgia’s 2nd and 3rd districts. (A Republican represents the 3rd district, but I don’t know why I never hear about any town hall meetings he holds. A Democrat represents the 2nd district, and that’s why exactly he doesn’t hold any town hall meetings. That and people like me asking for questions.)

So, sorry, there’s no chance to ask questions to a Democrat Congressman. But, there’s a Republican Congressman that will answer questions. So, I’m going to be at Congressman Rogers’ meeting next Monday. And I’ll ask my questions. And your questions.

If you want to ask a question of Congressman Rogers, leave it in the comments here.

If you want to submit a questions without leaving it here, email it to me at this address.

Oh, and serious questions are welcome, too.

(UPDATE: We’re accepting questions until Saturday, August 28, 2010)